The legislator representing Ohaji/Egbema in the Imo State House of Assembly has commended the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma for his prompt response and signing into law a bill to amend the University of Agriculture and Environmental Studies Ngor Okpala (establishment) law No 4 of 2019, now relocating the University to Umuagwo.
In a statement issued on Monday, May 25, 2020, and made available to the media by the PA Media and Public Enlightenment of the Legislator, Comrade Destiny Isinwa, the legislator, Hon Cyriacus Okoro observed that Governor Hope Uzodimma on Friday 22nd May 2020 signed into law, the bill to amend the university of Agriculture and Environmental Studies law number 4 of 2019 and described it as “a straightforward bill. It merely sort to stick to the original registration particulars of the law on which the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) approval was based, which had no room for a multi campus arrangement. The law as now amended, only seeks to set the records straight and to build the new university on existing structures at Umuagwo, while we relocate the Imo state polytechnic to another deserving site”.
He averred that the bill was presented as Executive Bill on Thursday, May 21, 2020, aimed at correcting various anomalies made by the 8th Assembly of IMHA which might lead to losing of the University license if not corrected.
He noted that the bill enjoyed the most extensive argumentative section of the Imo State 9th Assembly between those that spoke on the merits and those for demerits of the bill which metamorphosed into what could be better described as extra legislative tussle between Ohaji/Egbema State Constituency representative and those opposing the bill.
He observed that the action attracted by the bill warranted the rise of Mr. Speaker and the protection of the Mace while the Chief Whip, the Deputy Speaker and other supporters of the bill ensured peace and prevented attempted combat between Ohaji/Egbema representative and the opposers of the bill, particularly the Representatives from Mbaise clan who insisted that the University site remains in Ngor Okpala area instead of Umuagwo in Ohaji/Egbema LGA.
Hon. Cyriacus Okoro Heclus fought vehemently to ensure that the bill passed through 1st, 2nd and 3rd readings considering the favourable nature of the University to Ohaji/Egbema environment, her citizens and Imolites in general and knowing that the 8th Assembly caused legislative blunder by making a law to establish the University of Agriculture and Environmental Studies with Ngor Okpala as it location whereas NUC carried out her environmental assessment with facilities of Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo and issued the University license to Imo government in regards to the satisfied infrastructures and other facilities met at Imo Poly Umuagwo in Ohaji/Egbema LGA.
Positing at the floor of the House, Hon. Cyriacus Okoro Heclus allied with the new law seeking to remove Ngor Okpala as the location of the University and replace as “University of Agriculture and Environmental Studies, Umuagwo, Imo State”, he disagreed with Public Private Partnership (PPP) and other areas of interest the new law seek to address.
The Honourable member urged the people of Ohaji/Egbema to remain law abiding citizens, be supportive to Governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration, utilize the opportunities accumulated with the new University and assured protection of his Constituency interest.
